It has echoes of the Hummer, does Jeep's third generation Grand Cherokee. And, while it might not be as pricey as the General Motors' big daddy (the one that will be built in PE), the CRD turbodiesel I drove still has a pretty serious price tag at R469 900.
While the original was soft on the road, designed for the Americans, and wallowed, this new chap is all solid and secure. Crisp and precise, with decent road manners that don't make one feel, for example, that cornering too quickly could be a hazardous pastime.
There is still some roll but, thanks to independent front suspension replacing a solid axle and updated rack-and-pinion steering in place of a recirculating ball, it's not really an issue.
Rather, the ride is smooth, quiet and with little hint of the three-litre V6 turbodiesel sitting ahead of you. It's a 160kW unit at 4000rpm with 510Nm on tap from 1600 to 2800rpm through a flat torque curve.
The Mercedes engine hauls from nowhere and the five-speed auto gearbox also chooses its cogs gently. Chrysler says the CRD takes nine seconds from rest to 100km/h and will go on up to 200 - and a fuel consumption in a mix of driving in the mid-10 litres/100km range.
The newly designed Grand Cherokee still has the design DNA of its predecessor. It's just that it's been toned down to a more conservative line. Interlocking twin round headlights replace the oblong ones but the seven-slat grille remains as Jeep's trademark.
In other words, it's a good-looker.
The exterior and under-the-skin improvements have been carried through to the interior where all the fittings deliver a quality feel - from the power-adjustable leather upholstered seats (peculiar to the Limited edition) to the crisply appointed fascia and console.
Everything electric is to hand - windows, mirrors, a Boston Acoustics radio/CD, air-con - no more than one would expect given the Grand Cherokee CRD's ticket.
Standard items include two front crash bags and a tyre-pressure monitoring.
The Quadra Trac II all-wheel drive transfers the drive to the axle that needs it and there's a low-range lever in the console for the really tough work.
Stopping power comes from discs behind each of the 17" alloys with ABS and traction control.
The price includes a three-year or 60 000km warranty and a scheduled service plan.
The Grand Cherokee CRD faces stiff competition from Toyota's Prado - a perennial favourite - and Land Rover's latest offerings.
Chrysler's biggest challenge will be getting people into its cars to see just how good they really are with their renowned off-road ability and latest refinements.